Many cancer survivors look back on treatment wishing they would have known this or that beforehand. Hindsight is 20/20 and this old cliche definitely applies to cancer treatment. Here are nine common things that many people with cancer wish they knew before beginning treatment.
1. You Have the Right To A Second Opinion
Many experts recommend getting a second opinion when diagnosed with cancer, but far too few people actually follow this advice. Too many patients feel like they are "cheating" on their doctor or fear their doctor will be upset, but this could not be further from the truth. In fact, most insurance companies will require a second opinion for some cancer diagnoses. When Should You Get a Second Opinion?
2. What To Do If You Have Been Misdiagnosed or Undiagnosed
Let's say you have gotten a second opinion and it concludes something entirely different than your initial diagnosis, what do you do? What if several doctors have been unable to diagnose you with something, despite having persistent symptoms? Being misdiagnosed or undiagnosed with be both emotionally and financially devastating. What To Do If You Have Been Misdiagnosed or Undiagnosed
3. How to Choose the Right Doctor To Meet Your Medical Needs
Finding the right doctor to fit your specific medical needs is vital in receiving quality health care. There are many elements in finding a doctor to met your needs -- specialty, bedside manner, and whether the doctor will accept your insurance are all important criteria when choosing a doctor. How to Find the Right Doctor for You
4. How to Effectively Communicate With Your Doctor
An important part of receiving quality healthcare is having good communication with your doctor. When you can openly communicate with your doctor and have your concerns sufficiently addressed, then you know know you have an ideal doctor-patient relationship. A doctor-patient relationship is like any other relationship -- sometimes the chemistry just isn't there. You have to make sure that you are doing your part to effectively communicating your needs to your doctor, though. You can do this by asking a lot of the right questions and by also by immediately expressing your concerns. How to Effectively Communicate With Your Doctor
5. Understand the Meaning of 'Informed Consent'
With cancer treatment, comes paperwork -- a lot of forms to read and sign. You may be asked to sign an "Informed Consent" document before treatment. It is crucial that you understand this document and what it entails. What is Informed Consent?
6. You Can Change Doctors
A doctor-patient relationship is just like any other relationship; sometimes thing just don't work out. Whether it be lack of communication, poor bedside manner, or being misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, know that you can change doctors. You should not feel forced to be a patient who does not meet your needs. How to Change Doctors and Why7. How and Why You Should Review Your Medical Records
You should treat your medical records like your credit report and check it often for inaccuracies. Errors in medical records are more common than you may think. There have been instances where people find major inaccuracies like being diagnosed and treated for a disease they never had. Reviewing your medical records is vital to receiving optimum healthcare and also for insurance purposes. How to Correct Errors in Your Medical Records8. Where to Find Reliable Health Care Information on the Internet
If you have a chronic disease like cancer, then chances are that you are researching the internet for information about it. The internet is a great tool for learning more about your disease and treatment options, but do you know that you are getting reliable, factual information? You could be making treatment decisions based on outdated and incorrect information. How to Find Reliable Health Information on the Internet9. How to Make Objective Treatment Decisions
When you are diagnosed with cancer, it is easy to become overwhelmed with all of the decisions you have to make. It's likely that friends and family are weighing in with their opinions and this could greatly influence the decisions you make. When making decisions about treatment, however, it is important to remain objective. How to Make an Objective Decision About Your Health Care
